Lower leg massager and chair type massaging apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

A lower leg massager of the present invention can massage the lower legs over a wide range and in a preferred manner by constructing the apparatus in such a manner that the lower leg can be pressed over a wide range without arranging a plurality of massaging member along the length thereof.  
     A lower leg massager of the present invention comprises massaging means  8  including a pair of right and left massaging members  7, 7  arranged in an opposed manner at a space as wide as a lower leg  6  can be fitted therebetween and formed of board elongated in the direction along the length of the lower leg  6 ; and driving means  14  for moving a pair of right and left massaging members  7, 7  toward and away from each other so that the longitudinal directions thereof are inclined in the opposite directions with respect to each other and changing the extent of longitudinal inclination of the massaging members  7, 7  with respect to the longitudinal direction of the lower leg  6  when moving the massaging members  7, 7  toward and away from each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a lower leg massager and a chairtype massaging apparatus using the same.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Hitherto, one of chair type massaging apparatuses that canmassage not only the back or the hip of the human body, but also lowerlegs (specifically, the portion from below knee region to the vicinityof the ankle) thereof is disclosed in, for example, Japanese patentpublication No. 3012780. This massaging apparatus comprises a seatportion for supporting the hip of the human body from below, a seatbackportion provided at the rear end of the seat portion and including amassaging mechanism therein, and a footrest connected to the front endof the seat portion and having capability of massaging lower legs.

[0003] Such a footrest comprises a pair of right and left therapeuticrecesses for accommodating lower legs between both end walls and centerwall, and airbags on the inner surfaces of both side walls and on bothside surfaces of the center wall. Therefore, in the footrest of therelated art, both lower legs fitted in the respective therapeuticrecesses can be massaged simultaneously by inflating and deflating therespective air bags by an air supplying/discharging apparatus.

[0004] In the case of an airbag used in the footrest described above,since the swelling extent thereof is the largest at the center andgradually decreases toward both ends, a sufficient pressing force isapplied only on a small region along the length of the lower leg, andthus in order to obtain a desired massaging effect, the userdisadvantageously have to move his/her lower legs along the therapeuticrecesses.

[0005] Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent PublicationNo. HEI 11-347082, a footrest having a plurality of airbags adjacentlyaligned along the length of each therapeutic recess to supply anddischarge air to/from the plurality of airbags simultaneously orsequentially so that the lower leg can be effectively massaged over alarge region along the length thereof has already been proposed.

[0006] However, such a massaging apparatus has a disadvantage in thatthe number of components increases and thus the manufacturing costincreases as well since a plurality of airbags (massaging members) haveto be aligned along the length of the recess on both sides of onetherapeutic recess.

[0007] Moreover, in addition to the fact that the airbag type massagingapparatus has a disadvantage in that it is large and costly since an airsupplying/discharging apparatus comprising a compressor, an air piping,an electromagnetic valve, and a controlling means for the valve isrequired, there is another disadvantage in that programming of thecontrolling means for the air supplying/discharging apparatus increasesin complexity in order to inflate and deflate the plurality of airbagssimultaneously and sequentially, thereby further increasing themanufacturing cost.

[0008] On the other hand, a conceivable measure to solve the fundamentaldisadvantage existing in such an airbag type massaging apparatus is toemploy a mechanism that both side walls that constitute the therapeuticrecess themselves moves toward and away from the lower leg.

[0009] However, when allowing the both side walls constituting thetherapeutic recess to move simply in parallel toward and away from thelower leg, the both side walls press only the thicker portion of thelower leg (for example, the calf), and the thinner portion (for example,the portion near the ankle) cannot be preferably massaged. In addition,the simple parallel movement of the both side walls cannot performcomplex massaging operation such as rubbing up and rubbing down for thelower leg.

[0010] With such circumstances in view, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a massager being capable of massaging the lower legover a wide range and in a preferred manner at low cost by constructingthe apparatus in such a manner that the lower leg can be pressed over awide range without arranging a plurality of massaging member along thelength thereof.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0011] In order to achieve the object described above, the presentinvention takes a following technical step.

[0012] That is, the lower leg massager according to the presentinvention comprises: massaging means comprising a pair of right and leftmassaging members arranged in an opposed manner at a space as wide as alower leg can be fitted therebetween and formed of board elongated inthe direction along the length of the lower leg; and driving means formoving the pair of right and left massaging members toward and away fromeach other so that the longitudinal directions thereof are inclined inthe opposite directions with respect to each other and changing theextent of longitudinal inclination of the massaging members with respectto the longitudinal direction of the lower leg when moving the massagingmembers toward and away from each other.

[0013] In this case, when the driving means is operated with a lower legfitted between the pair of right and left massaging members, therespective massaging members move toward and away from each other sothat the longitudinal directions thereof are inclined in the oppositedirections with respect to each other for massaging the lower leg fittedtherebetween.

[0014] In the present invention, since the massaging member isconstructed not only to simply moves in parallel but also to change theextent of longitudinal inclination thereof with respect to the directionlongitudinally of the lower leg when they moves toward and away fromeach other, the massaging members adequately presses each longitudinalportions of the lower leg of different thickness. Therefore, the lowerleg can adequately be massaged over a wide range along the lengththereof even without arranging a plurality of massaging members alongthe direction longitudinally of the length of the lower leg.

[0015] When each massaging member moves toward and away from each other,the extent of longitudinal inclination of each massaging member withrespect to the direction longitudinally of the lower leg changes, andthus complex massaging operation such as rubbing up and rubbing down canbe performed for the lower leg.

[0016] In the invention described above, by constructing a pair of rightand left massaging members to be driven by the driving means in such amanner that when one of the longitudinally opposing ends of the pair ofright and left massaging members moves toward each other, the otherlongitudinally opposing ends thereof move away from each other, and whenone of the longitudinally opposing ends of the pair of right and leftmassaging members move away from each other, the other longitudinallyopposing ends of the pair of right and left massaging members movetoward each other, the different therapeutic portions of the lower leglongitudinally away from each other can be massaged alternately atdifferent timings, and thus the massaging effect for the lower leg canbe improved.

[0017] In addition, by constructing the pair of right and left massagingmembers in such a manner that the extent of widthwise inclination of thesame massaging member with respect to the thickness of the lower leg ischanged when they moves toward and away from each other by the drivingmeans, the complex massaging operation such as rubbing up and rubbingdown with respect to the lower leg can also be performed in thedirection of thickness thereof.

[0018] The driving means that can be employed for performing theabove-described operation may comprise, more specifically, a revolvingshaft passing through each massaging member in the direction ofthickness so as to be capable of relative rotation with respect to thepair of right and left massaging members, a pair of right and left cammembers fixed at axially intermediate positions of the revolving shaftand having cam surfaces inclined with respect to the revolving shaft andabutted against each massaging member, and a guide member for allowingthe pair of right and left massaging members to move along the revolvingshaft but restricting the same from being rotated therewith.

[0019] In this invention, by arranging two massaging means in such amanner that the therapeutic recesses for the lower legs constructed bythe massaging members of the same means are arranged side by side in thesame direction on the left side and the right side away from each other,two massaging means can massage a pair of lower legs at the same time.In this case, by providing the driving motor for rotating the revolvingshaft between these two massaging means, the lateral dimension of thismassaging apparatus can be reduced.

[0020] In the present invention, forming the pair of right and leftmassaging members of leaf springs that are resiliently deformable in thedirection of thickness prevents the massaging members from pressing thelower leg too strong and making the user feel pain.

[0021] In the present invention, by constructing the pair of right andleft massaging members in such a manner that the portion correspondingto the lower portion of the lower leg to be fitted therebetween is movedcloser to the lower leg in comparison with the portion corresponding tothe upper portion of the lower leg, a pressing force applied to thelower portion of the lower leg and a pressing force applied to the upperportion of the lower leg are equalized and thus the massaging effect foreach portion of the lower leg can be equalized.

[0022] The massaging apparatus for the lower leg described thus far canbe used as a single unit massager that is placed on the floor or on thebed, and as a footrest for the chair type massaging apparatus.

[0023] In other words, the chair type massaging apparatus of the presentinvention comprises a seat portion for supporting the hip of a humanbody from below, a seat back portion connected to the rear end of theseat, and a footrest mounted in front of the seat portion and having amassager for the lower leg. The footrest may be connected to the frontend of the seat so as to be detachable or integrally, or may be arrangedseparately from the front end of the seat portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a massager for lower legs.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a front view of the massager for lower legs.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG.2.

[0027] FIGS. 4 are plan views showing a massaging operation made bymassaging means.

[0028] FIGS. 5 are plan views showing a massaging operation made by themassaging means.

[0029] FIGS. 6 are front views showing a massaging operation made by themassaging means.

[0030] FIGS. 7 are front views showing a massaging operation made by themassaging means.

[0031]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a legless chair type massagingapparatus.

[0032]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a normal chair type massagingapparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

[0033] Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment of the presentinvention will be described.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a massager 1 for lower legsaccording to this embodiment comprises a base plate 2 formed generallyin a laterally elongated rectangular shape, a revolving shaft 4rotatably inserted between supporting brackets 3,3 provided upright onboth lateral ends of the base plate 2, a driving motor 5 for rotatingthe revolving shaft 4, and two massaging means 8, 8 each having a pairof right and left massaging members 7, 7 formed of board extending alongthe length of a human lower leg 6.

[0035] The base plate 2 is formed of a board of which the lateral lengthis approximately two times the vertical length, and provided with thesupporting brackets 3, 3 at both ends on the right and left sides. Therevolving shaft 4 is arranged along the longitudinal center line of theplate 2 in such a manner that the axial direction thereof coincides withthe longitudinal direction (lateral direction in FIG. 1) of base plate2, and both ends of the revolving shaft 4 in the axial direction arerotatably inserted into the bearing (not shown) provided within thesupporting brackets 3, 3.

[0036] The driving motor 5 comprises an electric motor being capable ofrotating in the forward and reverse directions, and is disposed at thelengthwise center of the base plate 2 between two massaging means 8, 8.The driving shaft of the driving motor 5 is fitted with a worm gear 9,which in turn engages the worm wheel 10 fixed at the lengthwise centerof the revolving shaft 4, and these gear 9 and the wheel 10 are storedwithin the gear case 11 provided at the center of the base plate 2.Therefore, by rotating the driving motor 5 in the forward and reversedirections, the revolving shaft 4 can be rotated in the forward andreverse directions via the driving mechanism comprising the gear 9 andthe wheel 10.

[0037] Each of the right and left massaging means 8, 8 comprises a pairof right and left massaging members 7, 7 through which the revolvingshaft 4 is passed at the center thereof for relative rotation, and a legmount 12 for supporting the lower leg 6 from below. The respectivemassaging members 7, 7 are arranged in a opposed manner at a space aswide as a lower leg 6 can be fitted therebetween, and formed of boardelongated in the direction along the length of the lower leg 6.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, each massaging member 7, 7 has a longitudinallength L extending from the lower knee region to the portion near theankle of the lower leg 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the widthwise dimension ofeach massaging member 7, 7 is set in such a manner that the height Hfrom the upper surface of the leg mount 12 (bottom surface of atherapeutic recess 13) to the upper edge of the massaging member 7, 7 ishigher than the thickest point p of the lower leg 6. In this manner,these pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 and the leg mount 12define the therapeutic recess 13 in the shape of an elongated groove,which can accommodate the portion of the lower leg 6 below the kneetightly and is extending in the direction along the length of the lowerleg 6.

[0039] The two massaging means 8, 8 are arranged between the gear case11 and the left supporting bracket 3, and between the same gear case 11and the right supporting bracket 3 respectively at a space from side toside so that the therapeutic recesses 13 face toward the same direction.

[0040] The lower leg massager 1 of this embodiment comprises a drivingmeans 14 for moving each massaging member 7, 7 toward and away from eachother in such a manner that the extent of inclination of each massagingmember 7, 7 with respect to the direction longitudinally along the lowerleg 6 changes. The driving means 14 comprises the revolving shaft 4, apair of right and left cam members 15, 15 fixed at axially intermediatepositions of the revolving shaft 4, and guide members 16, 16 forallowing the massaging members 7, 7 to move along the revolving shaft 4but restricting the same from being rotated therewith.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the revolving shaft 4 passesthrough each massaging member 7, 7 in the direction of thickness at thecenter in the longitudinal direction and lower position in the widthwisedirection thereof so as to be capable of relative rotation with respectto each massaging member 7, 7, and the cam members 15, 15 are providedat these through portions.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the cam member 15 comprises a pair of frontand back sandwiching plates 17, 18 each formed into a shape obtained bycutting a column diagonally with respect to the axis thereof, and acenter plate 19 in the shape a short cylinder interposed between thesesandwiching plates 17, 18, and these plates 17-19 are integrated intoone piece with fixing screws 20 passing therethrough in the direction ofthe axis of the revolving shaft 4.

[0043] The sandwiching plates 17, 18 are fixed by a locking pin or thelike, not shown, so as to move neither in the axial direction nor therotating direction of the revolving shaft 4. on the other hand, thecenter plate 19 is fixed to both plates 17, 18 with the inclinedsurfaces of the sandwiching plates 18, 19 abutted against the front andback surfaces thereof. Therefore, the center plate 19 is arranged in astate in which the axis thereof is inclined with respect to therevolving shaft 4, so as to define a cam surface 21 inclined withrespect to the revolving shaft 4 on the periphery thereof.

[0044] The center plate 19 is fitted within a boss portion 22 of themassaging member 7 so as to be capable of sliding movement, and in thiscase, the cam surface 21 of the center plate 19 abuts against the endsurface of the boss portion 22. Therefore, the massaging member 7 isrotatably connected to the revolving shaft 4 in a state of beinginclined with respect to the direction of the axis of the revolvingshaft 4.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the direction of inclination ofthe right and left cam members 15, 15 constituting one of massagingmeans 8 with respect to the revolving shaft 4 is set to be opposite witheach other, whereby the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7move toward and away from each other by inclining their longitudinaldirections in the opposite directions.

[0046] The guiding member 16 comprises a guide pin 23 projecting fromthe center of the lower edge of the massaging member 7 downwardly, and aguide rail 24 with which the guide pin 23 engages. As shown in FIG. 2,the guide rail 24 extends in the same direction as the revolving shaft 4immediately under the revolving shaft 4 on the base plate 2 for guidingthe projecting end of the guide pin 23 so as to be capable of moving inthe axial direction of the revolving shaft 4 (lateral direction in FIG.2) but not in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

[0047] Therefore, each massaging member 7, 7 is allowed to move alongthe revolving shaft 4 but is restricted from being rotated therewith bythe guide pin 23 provided at the lower edge portion thereof.

[0048] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, since a revolving shaft 4passes through the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 at thelengthwise center thereof so that each massaging member 7, 7 movestoward and away from each other by the inclined cam surface 21 on thecam member 15 provided at the through portion thereof, the massagingmembers 7, 7 moves in such a manner that when one of the longitudinallyopposing ends of the pair of right and left massaging members movetoward each other, the other longitudinally opposing ends thereof moveaway from each other, and when one of the longitudinally opposing endsof the pair of right and left massaging members move away from eachother, the other longitudinally opposing ends of the pair of right andleft massaging members move toward each other.

[0049] Since the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 arerestricted from being rotated with the revolving shaft 4 by the guidepin 23 and driven by the inclined cam surface 21 of the cam member 15 inthis state, the extent of longitudinal inclination of the massagingmembers 7, 7 with respect to the direction of the length of the lowerleg 6 (vertical direction in FIG. 1) changes sequentially and the extentof widthwise inclination thereof with respect to the direction ofthickness of the lower leg 6 (vertical direction in FIG. 2) sequentiallychanges as well when the massaging member 7, 7 moves toward and awayfrom each other.

[0050] On the other hand, since the massaging member 7 of thisembodiment is formed of a plastic leaf spring that is resilientlydeformable in the direction of thickness, the massaging members 7 areprevented from pressing the lower leg too strong and making the userfeel pain.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, the portions of the pressing surfaces of thepair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 corresponding to theportions near the ankles of the lower leg 6 is fixed with a cushionmaterial 25 formed of urethane foam resin or the like, whereby apressing force of the massaging member 7 is appropriately applied to therelatively thin portion of the lower leg near the ankle. Therefore, apressing force applied to the lower portion and to the upper portion ofthe lower leg 7 is equalized, and thus the massaging effect for eachportion of the lower leg 6 can be equalized.

[0052] It is also possible to form the pressing surface of the massagingmember 7 into a configuration suited to the curved configuration of thelower leg 6 without providing cushion material so that the portion ofthe massaging member 7 corresponding to the lower side of the lower leg6 placed between both massaging members 7, 7 is moved closer to thelower leg 6 than the portion corresponding to the upper portion of thelower leg 6.

[0053] The operation of the lower leg massager 1 of this embodiment willnow be described.

[0054] In order to massage the lower leg 6 of a person with thismassager 1, both of the lower legs 6 of the person are placed betweenthe pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 of the respectivemassaging means 8, 8 (within the therapeutic recesses 13), and thedriving motor 5 is actuated to move the massaging members 7, 7 towardand away from each other by the driving means 14. In this case, eachmassaging member 7, 7 moves toward and away from each other in a statewhere the longitudinal directions thereof are inclined in the directionopposed with respect to each other for massaging the lower leg 6 fittedtherebetween.

[0055] FIGS. 4 to 7 show the massaging action made by the massagingmeans 8 in the case described above. FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan viewsshowing the action of the respective massaging means 8, 8 in associationwith change over time, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are front views correspondingto FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0056] In other words, FIG. 4(b) shows a state in which the revolvingshaft 4 rotates one-quarter turn from the state shown in FIG. 4(a), FIG.5(c) shows a state in which the revolving shaft 4 rotates two-quartersturn from the state shown in FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 5(d) shows a state inwhich the revolving shaft 4 rotates three-quarters from the state shownin FIG. 4(a). FIGS. 6(a), (b) and FIGS. 7(c), (d) are front viewscorresponding to FIGS. 4(a), (b), and FIGS. 5(c), (d), respectively.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the widthwisely extending upper edges 7Aof the respective massaging members 7, 7 incline in the oppositedirection with respect to the revolving shaft 4 so that the ends on oneside of the edges 7A take the closest position and the ends on the otherside thereof take the farthest position, and as shown in FIG. 6(a), onelongitudinally extending edge 7B and the other longitudinally extendingedge 7C of each massaging member, 7, 7 are perpendicular to therevolving shaft 4.

[0058] When the revolving shaft 4 rotates one-quarter turn in thedirection as shown in the figure from the state shown in FIG. 4(a) andFIG. 6(a), the widthwisely extending upper edges 7A of the respectivemassaging members 7, 7 move closer in parallel with each other so as tobe perpendicular to the revolving shaft 4, and as shown in FIG. 6(b),the one longitudinally widthwise extending edge 7B and the otherlongitudinally extending edge 7C of each massaging member 7, 7 inclineto a state in which the upper edges 7A thereof take the position closestwith respect to each other.

[0059] When the revolving shaft 4 further rotates one-quarter turn fromthe state shown in FIG. 4(b) and FIG. 6(b), as shown in FIG. 5(c), thewidthwisely extending upper edges 7A of the respective massaging members7, 7 incline in the opposite direction with respect to the revolvingshaft 4 so that the ends on one side thereof take the farthest positionand the ends on the other side thereof take the closest position, and asshown in FIG. 7(c), one longitudinally extending edge 7B and the otherlongitudinally extending edge 7C of each massaging member 7,7 areperpendicular to the revolving shaft 4.

[0060] When the revolving shaft 4 further rotates one-quarter turn fromthe state shown in FIG. 5(c) and FIG. 7(c) as shown in FIG. 5(d), thewidthwisely extending upper edges 7A of the respective massaging members7, 7 move away in parallel with each other so as to be perpendicular tothe revolving shaft 4, and as shown in FIG. 7(d), the one longitudinallyextending edge 7B and the other longitudinally extending edge 7C of eachmassaging member 7, 7 incline to a state in which the upper edges 7Athereof take the position farthest with respect to each other.

[0061] Then, when the revolving shaft 4 further rotates one-quarter turnfrom the state shown in FIG. 5(d) and FIG. 7(d), the massaging members7, 7 return to the original state shown in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 6(a).

[0062] As is described thus far, according to the lower leg massager 1of this embodiment, a pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 eachformed into elongated board extending along the length of the lower leg6 not only moves in parallel toward the lower leg 6, but also changesthe extent of inclination in the longitudinal direction with respect tothe length of the lower leg 6 when moving toward and away from eachother, and thus the massaging member 7 adequately presses each portionsof the lower leg 6 having different thickness along the length thereof.

[0063] Therefore, a single massaging member 7 can adequately massageover a wide range of the lower leg 6 along the length thereof withoutproviding a plurality of massaging members along the length of the lowerleg 6. Since the extent of inclination of each massaging member 7, 7 inthe longitudinal direction thereof with respect to the longitudinaldirection of the lower leg 6 changes when the respective massagingmembers 7, 7 move toward and away from each other, complex massagingoperation such as rubbing up and rubbing down for the lower leg 6 can beperformed.

[0064] Since the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 areconstructed in such a manner that when the longitudinally opposing endson one side of the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 movetoward each other, the other longitudinally opposing ends thereof moveaway from each other, and when one of the longitudinally opposing endsof the pair of right and left massaging members move away from eachother, the other ends of the pair of right and left massaging membersmove toward each other (See FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 5(c)), the therapeuticportions of the lower leg 6 longitudinally away from each other can bemassaged alternately at different timings by the longitudinally opposingends of the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7, which alsoimproves the massaging effect for the lower leg 6.

[0065] In addition, since the extent of widthwise inclination withrespect to the direction of thickness of the lower leg 6 also changeswith the movement of both of the massaging members 7, 7 toward and awayfrom each other, the complex massaging operation such as rubbing up andrubbing down with respect to the lower leg 6 can also be performed inthe direction of thickness thereof.

[0066]FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show specific examples of a chair type massagingapparatus 27 using the lower leg massager 1 described above.

[0067]FIG. 8 shows a legless chair type massaging apparatus 27 in whicha seat portion 28 is placed directly on the floor comprising: the seatportion 28 for supporting the hip of a human body from below, and aseatback portion 29 connected to the rear end portion of the seatportion 28. In the seatback portion 29, there is provided a massagingmechanism 30 for performing rubbing or tapping massage incorporatedtherein so as to be capable of moving vertically, and in the seatportion 28 there is provided a reclining mechanism (not shown) forchanging the angle of inclination of the seatback portion 29.

[0068] A footrest 31 is disposed forwardly of the seat portion 28, andthe footrest 31 is constructed by covering the entire lower leg massager1 with a covering member 32 such as a raised cloth or the like.

[0069] According to the chair-type massaging apparatus 27, the user canbe given a massage on his/her back or neck by the massaging mechanism 30provided in the seatback portion 29 while sitting on the seat portion28, and simultaneously on his/her lower legs 6 (especially on his/hercalves) by the footrest 31 incorporated in the massager 1 arrangedforwardly of the seat portion 28.

[0070] The footrest 31 (lower leg massager 1) described above may bedetachably connected to the seat portion 28. The footrest 31 describedabove may also be used as a single massager that is used separately fromthe legless chair 27 by placing on the floor or on the bed.

[0071]FIG. 9 shows a normal chair type massaging apparatus 27 in which aseat portion 28 is arranged at a higher position away from the floor,comprising the seat portion 28 for supporting the hip of a human bodyfrom below, a leg portion 33 for supporting the seat portion 28 formbelow, and a seatback portion 29 connected to the rear end of the seatportion 28. The seatback portion 29 is provided with a massagingmechanism 30 incorporated therein so as to be capable of verticalmovement, and in the seat portion 28 there is provided a recliningmechanism (not shown) for changing the angle of inclination of theseatback portion 29.

[0072] The front end portion of the seat portion 28 is connected with afootrest 31 including the lower leg massager 1 incorporated therein soas to be capable of vertical swinging movement, and the angle ofinclination of the footrest 31 with respect to the seat portion 28 canbe changed corresponding to the angle of inclination of the seatbackportion 29.

[0073] The embodiments shown in this specification is illustrative butnot restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined byappended claims, and all the modifications containing these respectiveclaims are included in the present invention. For example, the presentinvention may comprise only a single massaging means 8.

[0074] As is described thus far, according to the present invention,since a wide range of the lower leg along the length thereof can bepressed by a pair of right and left massaging member, it is notnecessary to provide a plurality of massaging member along the length ofthe lower leg, whereby a massager that can adequately massage the lowerleg over a wide range can be provided at low cost.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0075] The present invention is directed to a massager that is suitablefor massaging the lower leg of a human body. Therefore, the presentinvention can be used for the product that massages only the lower leg.The present invention can also be used as a component of a chair typemassaging apparatus by incorporating it within a footrest providedforwardly of a seat portion of the chair type massaging apparatus.

1. A lower leg massager comprising: massaging means (8) comprising apair of right and left massaging members (7, 7) arranged in an opposedmanner at a space as wide as a lower leg (6) can be fitted therebetweenand formed of board elongated in the direction along the length of thelower leg (6); and driving means (14) for moving a pair of right andleft massaging members (7, 7) toward and away from each other so thatthe longitudinal directions thereof are inclined in the oppositedirections with respect to each other and changing the extent oflongitudinal inclination of the massaging members (7, 7) with respect tothe longitudinal direction of the lower leg (6) when moving themassaging members toward and away from each other.
 2. A lower legmassager as set forth in claim 1, wherein the driving means (14) drivesthe pair of right and left massaging members (7, 7) in such a mannerthat when one of the longitudinally opposing ends of the massagingmembers (7, 7) move toward each other, the other longitudinally opposingends thereof move away from each other, and when one longitudinallyopposing ends move away from each other, the other longitudinallyopposing ends move toward each other.
 3. A lower leg massager as setforth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving means (14) changes the extentof widthwise inclination of the pair of right and left massaging members(7, 7) with respect to the thickness of the lower leg (6) when themassaging members (7, 7) are moved toward and away from each other.
 4. Alower leg massager as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein thedriving means (14) comprises: a revolving shaft (4) passing through eachmassaging member (7, 7) in the thickness wise direction thereof so as tobe capable of relative rotation with respect to the pair of right andleft massaging members(7, 7); a pair of right and left cam members (15,15) fixed at axially intermediate positions of the revolving shaft (4),each of the cam members having a cam surface (21) inclined with respectto the revolving shaft (4) and abutted against each massaging member (7,7); and a guide member (16) for allowing the pair of right and leftmassaging members (7, 7) to move along longitudinally of the revolvingshaft (4) but restricting the same from being rotated with the revolvingshaft (4).
 5. A lower leg massager as set forth in any one of claims 1to 4, wherein two massaging means (8, 8) are arranged in such a mannerthat the therapeutic recesses (13) for the lower legs (6) constructedbetween the massaging members (7, 7) of the same means (8) are arrangedside by side in the same direction on the left side and the right sideaway from each other.
 6. A lower leg massager as set forth in claim 5,wherein a driving motor (5) for rotating the revolving shaft (4) isdisposed between two massaging means (8, 8).
 7. A lower leg massager asset forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pair of right andleft massaging members (7, 7) are formed of leaf springs that areresiliently deformable in the direction of thickness.
 8. A lower legmassager as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pair ofleft and right massaging members (7, 7) are constructed in such a mannerthat the portions thereof corresponding to the lower portion of thelower leg (6) to be fitted therebetween are moved closer to the lowerleg (6) than the portions corresponding to the upper portion of thelower leg (6).
 9. A chair type massaging apparatus comprising: a seatportion (28) for supporting the hip of a human body from below; aseatback portion (29) connected to the rear end of the seat portion(28); and a footrest (31) having a lower leg massager (1) as set forthin any one of claims 1 to 8 provided forwardly of the seat portion (28).